What should have been a simple life in the desert sand and stars becomes anything but. Haunted by dreams of a life of violence, and seeking answers as to why, Peridot and her friends find themselves caught in an ancient battle between Light and Dark...and find that the cost of being a soldier is higher than they might have ever thought.
Fern: This is starting to worry me.
Citrine: Pfft. Starting?
Citrine: Love, this has been worrying for months! What kind of anything needs this stuff?
Fern: Nothing good...Salt and blood can be used as anchors in a lot of things, but to rob six different butchers? I don't want to think about that amount...
Peridot: Ma? Mom? Have you got a second?
Fern: *deep sigh* Sure, kiddo. What's up?
Peridot: I wanted to tell you I'm going to change my internship placement today.
Fern: Oh?
Peridot: Politics. I'll be working at the Mayor's office next summer.
Citrine: ...what.
Citrine: no. Absolutely not. There is no way you're doing that.
Peridot: Mom--
Citrine: I said no.
Citrine: There is no way I'm letting you go work there.
Peridot: ...you don't have to let me, I'm doing it.
Citrine: Excuse me?!
Peridot: I don't need parental permission to change my internship. It's an unpaid position, so--
Citrine: So absolutely not! There is no way--
Fern: Citrine, slow down. Peri, why do you want to change it now?
Peridot: I...want to help my city. And being one more head on a track team isn't going to do that.
Citrine: Then go into activism! Or, fudge, medical sceince! Not politics!
Peridot: It's the only way to do it, Mom.
Fern: You have to be in the system to change the system? Is that it?
Peridot: Yeah.
Citrine: No! There are other ways, ways that don't involve working with Basil Herb every day!
Peridot: Like what?
Citrine: I don't know, not off the top of my head, but--
Peridot: Mom. I've done my research, this is it.
Peridot: I'm going to do this. I just--I wanted you to know first, that's all.
Citrine: That is not all! If you think for one second I'm going to let you do this--
Peridot: Ground me if you want! I'm still going.
Citrine: Why?! Why is this suddenly your big plan? What changed?!
Peridot: it's just something I need to do, okay?
Fern: Per, you've gotta give us more than that.
Citrine: Something you need to do? Says who?
Peridot: Says me! Why can't you just trust that and let me do what I need to do!?
Fern: You haven't exactly given us a reason, and it's a pretty big change from coming to work with me all summer!
Peridot: I just--I don't--I need to do this why is it such a big deal?! I thought internships were for trying things out!
Fern: They are, but this is...honey, it's not the job, it's the who it's with.
Citrine: And hell will freeze over before I let you spend an entire summer with Basil Herb, of all people. Honestly, Peri, what are you thinking?
Peridot: ...that I want to make a difference?
Citrine: And there's a thousand ways to do that outside of the mayor's office!
Fern: There's interning at the clinic, there's working at the firestation, there's a thousand different causes that need boots on the ground...
Peridot: None of them change what goes on in this city, though! It's all...world level stuff with them...I need to start smaller than that!
Citrine: So vote!
Peridot: I'm too young to vote!
Fern: Ah...okay, you've got a point there. Right, so...*sigh* Your Mom and I are going to need to talk about this.
Citrine: There's nothing to talk about, the answer is going to be no!
Peridot: ...Mom, I'm doing this. Ground me, o-or whatever, but...I'm doing this.
Citrine: You--Watcher why did you inherit your Ma's stubborn streak?!
Fern: Hey, you're just as bad. Peri, head to school. We'll talk about this and get back to you.
Fern: Though, for the record, I really want to know what brought this on, too.
Peridot: It's--
Citrine: Complicated, we know! *sigh* ...get going, sweetie. You don't want to be late.
Later...
Celestial: Peri? Oh don't tell me.
Peridot: I am switching my internship, no matter what you or my mothers say.
Celestial: I'm...guessing they weren't happy.
Peridot: That is the angriest I have ever seen Mom, so...yeah, they're not happy.
Celestial: Can't blame 'em. This is still a really bad idea.
Peridot: I don't see you coming up with any better ones!
Celestial: I've only had a day!
Celestial: if you just give me a little more time--
Peridot: We don't have any more time. This is the cut for internship assignements, remember? It's literally today or never.
Celestial: Well maybe never is the better idea!
Peridot: Ah, there you go again. You don't get to decide things for me, Cel. Dinner, sure, but not this.
Celestial: I am just trying to keep you alive!
Peridot: Basil won't kill me. Parsley may try, but he won't either. They need all nine of us, right?
Celestial: ...there are worse ways to be than dead, Per.
Celestial: Yeah, we all have to be alive for the ritual, but that doesn't mean intact. That doesn't mean unhurt.
Peridot: ...I know that. But I can't just...I can't just let this happen, Cel. Not so long as I can still do something about it.
Peridot: It's not a fight, but...so long as I can keep going, I have to try.
Celestial: I know. I know. *sigh*
Celestial: You're not going to let me talk you out of this, are you.
Peridot: No.
Celestial: ...okay. I trust you. Let's...let's do this.
Peridot: Thank you.
Celestial: Hey...what are friends for?
Peridot: Yes ma'am. I need to switch my internship assignment, if it's still possible?
*door closes*
Celestial: ....oh, Peri...you're going to get yourself killed again...
Peridot: ...Cel said the same thing, but...this is all I can do, and I need to do something. I can't just...sit by and let this go, you know? It's my city, my world. If I can help it, somehow, then...I have to try.
Celestial: So, say this works. What're you going to wish for?
After school...
Fern: Just so we're on the same page, you really want to grill her on why?
Citrine: Yes? This is just...it came on so suddenly!
Citrine: I don't know...something's up. Maybe she...
Fern: Maybe she?
Citrine: ....it's stupid, but maybe she knows that Basil has something to do with the robberies and she wants to stop him herself.
Fern: That sounds familiar, doesn't it?
*door opens, closes quietly*
Citrine: ...a little too familiar.
Fern: Well, she is our girl. And she's almost seventeen, so...
Citrine: So seventeen year olds aren't known for their forward thinking, Fern.
Fern: No, but she's old enough to know what she's doing. Just...trust her.
Citrine: ....right. Peri, we need to talk.
Peridot: *soft groan* Yeah, Mom...coming.
Peridot: How grounded am I?
Fern: Eh, not at all. Yet.
Peridot: Oh. Great.
Peridot: Okay, so. Where do we start?
Citrine: Why the sudden change of heart? You were pretty pleased with Athletics before...
Peridot: Well, I...I was doing research and I kind of...stumbled into it?
Peridot: it was this...forum, I guess, of people talking about corruption in politics and how to get rid of it.
Citrine: And that involves internships at local offices?
Peridot: Well, yeah. E-especially for people my age, since we're too young to vote just about...everywhere. The idea was to learn how things work so we can change them later. Or try to, anyway.
Fern: Know the system so you can change the system. It's fair.
Peridot: It's the best we can do.
Peridot: And I know you two don't like Mayor Herb, but that's also why I need to do this. I've seen your notes, Mom, I know he's rotten. But if I can't help vote him out, then...maybe I can help with this, somehow.
Citrine: How? He'd just as soon take out anyone who publishes his corruption, even a teenager. It's risky, too risky.
Peridot: He won't do anything in the office, or the station. There's cameras all over the place, and there's no way every officer can be on the take!
Fern: Mm...I don't know about that part. It's pretty far behind enemy lines, kiddo.
Peridot: Does that make sense?
Citrine: Oh, it does, but it doesn't stop me from worrying you'll be in over your head!
Fern: ...I'm going to guess you already told Principal Heart you were switching, didn't you?
Peridot: ...well, yeah? Today was cutoff day.
Citrine: *sigh* Peridot Spring Crystal, you...you're just as bad as your mother.
Fern: Hey now...
Citrine: Hush, love, I'm including myself in that.
Peridot: Heh...sorry, I just...I need to do this. If things start to go south, if I can't handle it, I'll...I'll back off. I'll pull out. But I need to try. Please?
Citrine: Well it is clearly too late to say no, so. Okay. Okay. I trust you.
Citrine: Though I wish you'd come to us before deciding this on your own, baby.
Citrine: Heh....sorry, I guess I just...kind of got swept up in it. Those forums are...pretty active.
Fern: I bet they are! People are always...well, it's a mess in politics. Why do you think I picked up a sword instead?
Peridot: *breathy laugh* Yeah, well, that doesn't really work with the mayor, Ma.
Citrine: Oh, don't tempt me. Well. I guess we're going to need to get you some businesswear. *sigh* Oh, Peri...when did you get so big?
Peridot: Heh...who knows, Mom. Who knows.
New Years Eve....
Peridot: Come on, Cel! We'll miss the fireworks!
Celestial: Okay, okay, I'm coming! *laugh* They're just fireworks, Peri! It's nothing that special.
Peridot: Sure it is! Wishes made under fireworks always come true, and we could use all the help we can get right now.
Celestial: You know that's just an old wive's tale, right?
Peridot: Then it won't hurt to try. Come on, slowpoke!
Peridot: ...something a little more personal than...all this mess we're in.
Celestial: ...oh?
Peridot: Yeah. ...Cel? Can I...can I tell you something? Do you promise you won't leave?
Celestial: Nothing could ever make me leave you. Not even death.
Peridot: Don't joke about that.
Celestial: I'm serious. I'll always be here for you. With you. You can tell me anything.
Peridot: I wasn't kidding. I've been in love with you for years--I don't want better, I want you. I want my best friend, the man who's always had my back even when things are tough, even when things are going wrong! I love him--you! Do you not...if this is one sided that's fine I just...please...tell me?
Celestial: That isn't...that's not what I mean. I love you--you know I do, I just...Peri, I've messed up...I've made so many mistakes I can't make up for, I. I can't pull you into this any further, and that means...whatever we have? It stops here.
Peridot: No, no, it's fine. Forget it. Just...forget I ever brought it up. ...Watcher, I'm an idiot.
Peridot: You're letting your fear of what could happen keep you from the good of what could happen. That's what this is. That's what this has always been.
Peridot: And...maybe you're right to be scared. Of them, at least, but...if we let fear rule our lives, they've already won. And I refuse to let them win. So...*inhale*
Celestial: You're right. I'm scared. I'm terrified! Of them winning, of everything being destroyed, but...the thing that scares me most?
Celestial: Out of everything I've seen and done, everything? The thing I'm most scared of is losing you!
Peridot: I would rather have a day with you, than a thousand years without you. I love you. With everything I am.
Others, downstairs: Happy new year!!!
Peridot: You clean up good, Crystal...
Peridot: I....I love you. I'm in love with you. I have been for a long time and I--
Celestial: ...
Peridot: Y-you don't have to return those feelings I just. I can't ignore this anymore I--
Celestial: Stop.
Celestial: ...You don't....*sigh* I'm not a good enough man for you, Peridot.
Peridot: ...what?
Celestial: There are things I've done...things I may have to do, that...they're not good. I'm not good. You deserve better.
Peridot: What if I don't want better? What if I want you?
Celestial: ...
Peridot: ....meaning?
Celestial: Meaning....no matter how much you love me, and how much I love you...or in what way, we...*rough swallow* We can't be more than friends. I can't risk someone else thinking...thinking they can use you or me against one another.
Peridot: ...so...this is it, then. This is as far as we go.
Celestial: For now.
Peridot: I...okay, I...nevermind, then. Forget I said anything.
Celestial: Peri--
Celestial: No, you're not, I just--I can't--
Peridot: I didn't say anything because I didn't want to lose what we already have and now--
Celestial: You haven't lost me! I'm staying with you, I just can't--we can't--I don't even--
Peridot: ....
Peridot: ...you're letting fear rule your life.
Celestial: ...what?
Celestial: ...what...
Peridot: You're so scared of what Basil, or Parsley, or Obscuro, could do...that you're scaring yourself out of the life you could have while we fix this. That's what this is.
Peridot: I'n going to fix this, and then...then we'll just...have to try again, I guess...
Celestial: Peri wait--
Celestial: I can't--I wouldn't survive it. Please, don't leave me...
Peridot: I'm right here. I've always been here, and I will always be here.
Peridot: But this is what I mean, Cel. We can't let fear of what could happen keep us from living a good life. We can't let it take away our future.
Celestial: Even if that future is...really, really short?
Celestial: I...I love you, too. So much. Can I...
Peridot: Shut up and kiss me.
That summer...
Peridot: *happy humming*
*Knock on door*
Peridot: Come in!
Citrine: ...well, it suits you.
Fern: How's it feel?
Peridot: A little strange? I'm not really used to skirts.
Citrine: ...you'll...get used to it.
Peridot: I hope so! The heels are definitely weirder, though.
Fern: Not too late to switch to flats! They're easier to kick in, anyway.
Peridot: Nah, dresscode calls for heels.
Fern: Oh, well, who are we to skirt the dress code. Pff...
Citrine: ....Peri, are you...sure this is what you want to do? Really, truly?
Peridot: Yes, Mom, I'm sure.
Citrine: ....okay. Okay, I just...
Fern: We're just worried, is all.
Peridot: I know, believe me I know! but I'll be fine, I promise. It's just an internship!
Citrine: With the most corrupt mayor this town has ever seen...
Fern: So, promise us: if things start to get skeevy, you get your butt outta there.
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